The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-02-05
BEHIND TIL: COUNTER.

IL
"My first day ut the store y said
Carry Wallnn4iord, with II curious
thrill through her. as if an ice cold
stream were trinklin5 down the line
OF her spinal column. ooh, ! wish
l were rich girl, and didn't have TO
work ?"
Work is honorable, my child"
said old Uncle Wolsry, who. with
his spectacles on his nose was trying
to spcl through the illegiblc para
graphs Of the daily paper, muttering
to himself that "eithcr they didn't
print US good as they used to, or
else his old eyesight was falling"
Yes, | know" iluttered Carry
"but but Pm very willing that
someone else should have the honor
this time
Uncle Wolsey turned his glasses
with mild reproach upon his niece's
pink-and-white balsam of face.
Il wish l could be as brave as you
Uncle Wolseyl" !" said Carry, as she
tied the crimson strings of her little
capotc under her round chin.
Old Wuisry Wallmgford had shell
tered his little pet lamb by his hearth
fold all her lifetime until now. lie
was IL jeweler 10y trade, and he had
kept his unpretcnding store open as
long as possiblc. But the tide oi
fashion went by, and left him strand
ed ON the unfrequcnted side-street
where the sign Of the furnished silver
watch attracted no further atten
ton.
And one day, when he had set al
day in the window with his magni
flying glass, working at some i'm
possible old time-piece, whose owne
had died and never called for it, thu
twilight crept darkly over his eye
sight and his heart. He laid dow
his tools.
"All day long" said he, "anc
never customer Well-a-dayl i
is time for the old man to shut NJ
his store at last"
lie went out and put up the wood
en- shutters, with heart that wa
heavier than they, and from tina
time thence-forward the wooden in
itation of the silver watch swung II
longer over the door
Uncle Wolsey had been conquere
in lile's battle, and laid down hi
arms, and now it was that Carry It
luctantly threw herself into tn
breach.
How could she let the dear ol
man starvc? And Mr.. Pickrell
fancy and dry goods store on Sixt
avenue was really very creditabl
establishment, and Mrs. Pickrell he
self had promised from the seven
heights of the cashiers desk, t
"kccpAn eye" upon old Mr.. Wal
ingiord's niece, and if her service
proved desirable, there was no sol
of doubt but that her salary woul
be increased in time.
So Garry buttoncd up her sAcl
drew ON her neat lislc-tllrcad glow
and took the little basket, in whicl
wrapped in a ma. kin, was packc
her lunch of apple-pie and chccs
and went forth to meet her new c;
reer, little reckoning how briet it WI
to be.
At first it was not very pleasah
The store WAS small and stutly, wit
gorgeous piles ofcretonne and chint
at the door, and lestoons Of lace
silk handkcrchieis and colored je
seys Tapping against the heads
the girls behind the counter, {
whom there were three besides Carr
bold, high-voiced damsels, VIII
wore their lair down over the brida
of their noses and giggled inccssan
ly.
Customers came and went, chang
was made and paper parcels exp
ditiously wrapped up.
Mr.. Pickrcll walked the floor wit
his hands.in his pockets, orderC
away small girls whose noses we
flattened too persistently against tt
windows outside, and smiled bean
ingly on old ladies who stopped
examine the quality of the chintz'
and flannel suitings.
Mrs. Pickrell reprimanded Il
young women with the banged ha
for giggling too loud when the
were customers in the store, al
called to Carry to mind what 81
was about when Il box of ribbC
fell off the counter upon the floor
Garry grew very weary, her he'
began to ache, and she wonder
how long it would be before "sht
ting-up time"
At last a tall, brown-laced you